Marcia Johnson is one of the nation’s leading voting-rights attorneys and a fierce defender of equal access to the ballot. As chief of activation & justice at the League of Women Voters, she drives the organization’s advocacy, litigation, organizing, and policy agenda for justice in democracy. 

With decades of experience advancing civil and voting rights, Marcia leads the League’s integrated legal, advocacy, and organizing strategy to protect and expand participation for all voters. She previously served as co-director of the Voting Rights Project at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, where, for years, she created and directed the national nonpartisan Election Protection coalition, researched the impact of the Voting Rights Act on American democracy, and participated in major litigation defending the constitutionality of the Voting Rights Act.  

At the League, she has reimagined the organization’s role as a national justice partner, bridging litigation, legislative engagement, and grassroots activism. Marcia’s leadership will expand the League’s impact in courtrooms and communities alike, ensuring voters’ voices are heard and protected. A sought-after speaker, she is recognized for her clear moral vision and deep expertise in civil rights law. She has testified before Congress, guided national voter protection strategies, and trained a generation of advocates in equity-centered democracy work. Her career stands as a testament to justice in action. 

Topic Expertise: 

• The future of voting rights and election protection
• Civil rights law, litigation strategy, and redistricting expertise
• Legislative advocacy for inclusive democracy
• Mobilizing grassroots legal and advocacy networks
• The Voting Rights Act and contemporary suppression tactics
• Intersection of race, law, and democracy